Horrific images show a woman who went to the dentist with toothache but found out her neck was actually being destroyed by a flesh-eating bug.
Mother-of-three Madelein Carelse, 42, was given the shocking news when she went to a dentist in Vereeniging, in South Africa’s north-eastern Gauteng province.
Ms Carelse said the pain had started days earlier which had prompted an initial visit to a different dentist in her home city of Vanderbijlpark, who gave her antibiotics.
Mother-of-three Madelein Carelse (pictured), 42, was given the shocking news when she went to a dentist in Vereeniging, in South Africa’s north-eastern Gauteng province
Ms Carelse said the pain had started days earlier which had prompted an initial visit to a different dentist in her home city of Vanderbijlpark, who gave her antibiotics
But a few days later the throbbing worsened and she was struggling to breathe, with the area under her jaw starting to go black.
Her husband took her to another dentist, this time in Vereeniging, where she was told: ‘Something is seriously wrong.’
He said she had fallen victim to necrotising fasciitis, a flesh-eating bug that eats away at the soft tissue of the body and spreads rapidly.
Before and after: Ms Carelse (left, before the necrotising fasciitis) was not aware of the infection until seeing a second dentist. The wound on her neck started the throbbing and she was struggling to breathe, with the area under her jaw starting to go black (right, in hospital)
It is extremely rare and sees around 1,000 cases a year in the US.
To save her life, doctors at Sebokeng Hospital in Vanderbijlpark had to cut away all of the infected tissue in order to stop it from infecting her vital organs, and she now needs plastic surgery in order to rebuild her face and neck.
But Ms Carelse has no health insurance, so her friend Annemarie van Antwerpen has started a fundraising campaign.
Speaking to local media she said: ‘She is very sore.’
She added: ‘We would like to move her to a private hospital, as we are concerned that the wound appears to be turning septic.
‘We would also like Carelse to undergo reconstructive surgery, which will require a plastic surgeon.’
Her husband took her to another dentist, this time in Vereeniging, where she was told: ‘Something is seriously wrong’
The second dentist said she had fallen victim to necrotising fasciitis, a flesh-eating bug that eats away at the soft tissue of the body and spreads rapidly
She is due to have surgery on Monday and a funding campaign on Facebook, called We Care For You Medelein Club, has also been set up by friends to help with the costs.
Supporters include the Mrs Africa Classic Erika Breytenbach, who has visited the Ms Carelse in hospital and urged people to contribute to the fundraising campaign.
Donations can be made by visiting the We Care For You Madelein Club Facebook page.
Supporters include the Mrs Africa Classic Erika Breytenbach, who has visited the Ms Carelse in hospital (pictured) and urged people to contribute to the fundraising campaign